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Easter Is Not Just One DayWe often set aside Easter Sunday to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and then hurry back to life as usual. But Easter is more than one day. It’s the season of six weeks extending to Pentecost, May 20.During this season, we celebrate the wonder of our risen Lord who is with us each of the days of our lives, giving us his strength, peace and courage.April 15 - He opens our eyesApril 22 - He lays down his lifeApril 29 - He makes us his witnessesMay 6 - He is the vine, we the branchesMay 13 - He heals our hurts

Sunday Adult Classes

Journey from Unbelief to Faith - Upstairs

New Member Class - Sanctuary

Luther Land TripWe’re leaving on Monday, August 27 to spend 11 days in Germany following Martin Luther’s footsteps 500 years after the Reformation.If you would like to join me on this great trip, get your deposits in soon. We need 20 participants for us to go. Time is flying. Final payments are due on May 14.

Youth and Family Ministries Director UpdateThe Mutual Ministry committee has worked hard these months reviewing 21 resumes and interviewing numerous candidates for our Youth and Family Ministries Director.They are recommending we hire Jeremy Ryan, who has experience both as a youth director as well as being a special education teacher.I invite you to meet Jeremy this Sunday, April 15 as he and his family are with us for worship and class time. We value your input.

New Sunday Class - 9:30 AM, UpstairsJourney from Unbelief to Faith By: Rev. Dr. John Nunes (Includes subtitles in English)The passage from unbelief or antagonism toward God to faith in Christ as Lord and Savior is a road that's different for each person. Follow the stories of four individuals from widely dissimilar pasts that arrived at the same conviction: Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and because He is they must tell others about it.Theirs has been a pilgrimage from the outer edges of unbelief and apathy to a place where today Jesus Christ commands their heartfelt devotion. The road to faith was not easy for them, and many were the times when abandoning it seemed the preferred route to travel. Still, the persistence of the Holy Spirit's work in their lives brought about a different outcome, with an eternal transformation.Led by Melanie Hohag

NEW “Becoming Mom Strong” Bible/Book Study You are invited to a new inspirational study “Becoming Mom Strong” by Heidi St. John.She offers biblical wisdom and practical advice to help today’s mom’s address current challenges.Join us at 6:30 PM on April 19 at Lisa Regennitter’s home.Contact Lisa in the office if you are interested.

Senior Social April 25 & May 23 at 1:00 PM Join us for our monthly get together to socialize, play dominoes, or do crafts. There is no obligation to participate in the games. Individuals bring their own crafts to work on. Others use the opportunity to just sit and talk. Light snacks are provided.

BFLC BOOK GROUP READ FOR APRILThe Sense of an Ending By Julian BarnesThis intense novel follows a middle-aged man as he contends with a past he has never much thought about until his oldest friends return with a vengeance, one of them from the grave, another maddeningly present. Tony Webster thought he'd left all this behind as he built a life for himself. Now his marriage and family and career have fallen into an amicable divorce and retirement. But he is then presented with a mysterious legacy that obliges him to reconsider various things, and to revise his estimation of his own nature and his place in the world.Join us at the church for discussion on Wednesday, April 18th at 1:00 PM

New Pictorial Directories are in your church mailbox!

April 18th at 6:30 PM in Luther Hall at Saint Luke's Lutheran ChurchJohn Peter who started the ministry, India Transformed! will be with us to speak about the ministries going on in India and the state of danger and persecution for Christians in India. John Peter will speak at 6:30 PM and we will have a community meal at 5:30 PM. Please invite friends to this event, however, please know that the ministry is keeping a low social media profile to protect it and any others involved. Many may remember that Compassion International was kicked out of India last year.If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, Karen Hansen at 719-205-0011. Saint Luke's Lutheran is located at 5265 N. Union Blvd.

Intergenerational ActivitiesSaturday, April 21: Intergenerational Stargazing at church at 7:30 PM! Bring layers as it may be chilly. Bring your curiosity and telescopes!Saturday, April 28th: FAITH, FILM, FELLOWSHIP at the Cole's at 4:30 PM! Movie: The Mission. Meaningful story of God's whisper in a historically tenuous time. Middle school age and up. Address in Directory.

May Sunday School classes with Pastor Ken: “Neighbors in Faith” Learn about what distinguishes Lutheranism from our Mormon, Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah Witness, etc. neighbors & how to engage in healthy conversations.

Cystic Fibrosis 5kSaturday May 19thCystic Fibrosis 5k for Amanda Ragsdale! Greater Strides! Walk, run, or cheer us on at America the Beautiful Park! Sign up is up! Come support, learn, and walk with us as we support God's healing power in our community!

LWR Fair TradeOn Sunday, May 6th between services coffee, tea and chocolate will be sold to benefit LWR Fair trade; and jewelry and other items will be available to benefit Outreach Uganda. These items make great Mother’s Day gifts! Come check it out!

BFLC Church WorkdaySaturday, May 19 8:30 AM -12:30 PMA few projects we will be working on….

Trim/cut back plants in garden areas

Add reflectors to Shoup Rd. entrance

Clean up light fixture indoors

Set-up patio furniture

Rake up pine needles

Lunch is provided. Bring gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows, etc.

Military Care BoxesWe will be sending out Military boxes for Memorial Day, so if you would like to help, you may bring in any of the following:

Comics

Chapstick

Peanuts

Flavored Water Enhancers (Like the Mio ones)

Spices to flavor food

Gum

Snack pac of cookies

Small Hygiene products

Cracker Snacks

Protein bars

Trail Mix

Lifesavers

Slim Jims (ind.)

Please mark them ‘military’ and put them in the laundry cart in the narthex.Thanks for supporting our military in this way!

Ministry of Didi Panzo from DRC UpdateDidi and Serafina recently had a visit from their son, Enoque and his wife. Fortunately, they got home safely after the visit. They had an opportunity to visit Didi’s mother during the visit.Overall, things are not going too badly for Didi and Serafina. Grace continues to recover from the removal of her tumor, although she had no ongoing means to support her and her son. The farmers are tending to their crops, which will be harvested in about 3 months. Didi has been able help just a little with money for seeds and fertilizer.In turn, some food has been donated for orphans. The orphans continue to be in need. There is just not enough to feed them. Last year we sent some shirts to share with them. Didi has been providing administrative support as well as teaching at a theological school about 100 miles from their home. The counseling that is being provided for local women is also going well. The women support each other and are learning how to find God’s support when there are troubles.The biggest danger seems to be the unrest in the East, made worse by a very poor government.Pray for the safety of the Panzos and those they support.

Continue with your Devotions after LentHave a quiet interlude with God before you begin your full day can bring assurance of being prepared for what the day may hold. Martin Luther stressed the need for time and prayer with God before anything else.Our Portals of Prayer devotional booklets have a brief scripture and thought provoking devotion written for each day.Pick one up and take the time to give it a try as you continue to grow as a disciple of Christ.

Fight Fraud - Shred Instead Saturday, June 2 9:00 AM -12:00 PM in the church parking lotThree boxes or paper bags will be accepted per car.Donations accepted for Black Forest Cares. They need volunteers, please let Stan Beckner if you are able to help out.

Some Ideas for Multiplying Your Pennies to Share New underwear and socks (both adult and children’s, including bras for women) & disposable diapers are always needed at the Marian House Clothing Closet. Please consider the following ideas when supporting these ministries.

If you receive Kohls Cash or a 30% off coupon, consider using the found money to purchase some of these

Request Visa gift cards when offered to redeem reward points you accumulate through a rewards program at your financial institution, through a credit card you carry or any other business Rewards program. Then use these to purchase items listed above

Use store and manufacturers' coupons to purchase items. Think creatively and generously!

An Author in Our Congregation Cindy Winford has published IRMA'S STORY about a homeless woman on the streets of Chicago who struggles to survive and overcome many hardships. She finds love in two ways, from her homeless Vietnam vet and finally from Jesus.It can be found on Amazon.com or purchased from Cindy for $10.

Migrant Workers Find Comfort Every year, over 4,000 migrant farmworkers stream into the San Luis Valley to work harvest. With sporadic work, low wages, lack of family resources, and limited access to social services, migrants are a population that live close to the edge of crisis, often lacking basic resources.Hygiene kits include:

soap

shampoo/conditioner

deodorant

toothbrush

toothpaste

washcloth/towels

tampons/pads/razors (women)

razors/shaving cream (men)

You can make a difference by donating one hygiene kit this year. Please leave donations in the cart in the fellowship hall. Mark them migrant bags.

SQUEAK SHEETNotice something around the church that needs attention? Perhaps a light bulb is out or a door doesn't shut properly. Take a moment to fill out a "squeak sheet" in the office and let us know. This helps our property committee to identify and address issues so that our church can be as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.

Thank you for another successful Easter Basket ministry year!Through your generous donations and participation, we were able to provide 150 baskets to La Puente in the San Luis Valley, 25 baskets to the Marion House, and 25 baskets to Tri-Lakes Cares. Over 30 people helped make them a reality.The baskets were filled with a stuffed animal, chocolate bunny, filled eggs, Easter coloring book, crayons, pencil, stickers, cross, toys, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and a clementine.Blessings from your basket team - Lavonne Hidy, Pam Wagner, and Francesca Vasta